Comparing the MLA30+ With a Random Wire Antenna: a surprising result

[@kenbaird7067]

I took a 25m length of wire and set it up as random wire in my urban environment- very noisy. I then progressively reduced the length by 5m intervals and found that the optimum length for best S/N ratio for my PL880, PL330, PL600 receivers was 7.5 to 10.0 m. The 10m wire I use appears omnidirectional and is my main antenna. Ken Baird, Lower Hutt, NZ

[@sfred]

That's a good approach if the gain control on the radio isn't sufficient (or the radio doesn't have one like on the PL330).

[@ramseyramsey-b3e]

What band(s) were you trying to receive. Antenna length makes a big difference. 5m is a lot to cut incrementally, esp. if you first don't do the math.

[@madmax2069]

With the mla-30, if the radio has a DX/local switch/button flip it to local to try to avoid the receiver from overloading. I have to some times do this with the MLA-30 hooked up with my Eton Elite Executive, especially on days/nights with real strong reception. It's best to have the mla-30 mounted to something that can rotate because it is directional, it has nulls to the side of the loop, and the edge of the loop (in line) is where it picks up the signal. So if the signal is north of you, you point it north south, and it'll null out east and west. RCA makes an antenna rotator for around $100-$120 which would work well for rotating the MLA-30 but would it actually be worth spending $100-$120 on doing it vs doing it manually. The sma coax that leads from the loop part into the power supply isn't the best in the world, a popular modification is to cut the wire off and install a BNC connector and use a much better coax between the the loop and power supply. It's a tight fit but installing BNC connectors onto the MLA-30 power supply will also do a bit better signal wise. I have yet to cut the coax off and install a BNC connector onto my MLA-30 but I do have a BNC coax leading from the power supply to the radio and it has helped a little in a better SNR. You'll also see a drop in the noise floor if you can use a linear based USB power supply (CCrane use to sell them). I seen a slight improvement by clipping on some ferrite onto the coax on the MLA-30 on both ends on the coax leading from the power supply to the loop, from the power supply to the radio, and onto the USB cables leading into the power supply. I've seen people make the loop on the MLA-30 bigger using some copper tubing, but I've not seen a comparison between the MLA-30 with it's stock wire loop vs the modified bigger copper loop to actually see if it helps or hampers it's range and reception. With the nulling capabilities of a loop, they're good to pair up with a QRM Eliminator to have the capability to null out multiple noise sources.

[@andrewmcphee8965]

Thanks for the video. Been running a 30m longwire with pretty good resuls, got a MLA-30+ yesterday and looking forward to playing with it.

[@sidneycavalcant]

Quais foram os resulta da MLA 30+ ?

[@PureAwareness76]

And? 😊

[@MagicRoosterBluesBand]

I use a standard tv cable from my radio to outside, then 50ft if wire around my fence. I also ground the cable to my radio and a copper pipe 1 foot in the ground. Works quite well from a condo.

[@lucasmills1246]

PL-660 with a wire antenna stuck to a long pvc pipe above the roofline with audio Technicas studio monitors. That's what I have and I think that's what I'll keep, I do want a Sangean like yours though, very nice sir.

[@sidneycavalcant]

O Sangean é um rádio complexo, muitos amam e outros odeiam, na dúvida ainda !

[@scottbelcher9026]

If you install the MLA-30+ horizontally, at you’re getting to it now, but yes, that would make it less directional! And I like keeping both to use in different situations!

[@peterk_hh]

The 5 meter wire is nearly resonant on 19 meter band so no surprise that it performs well there.

[@Desert-edDave]

If you are in any kind of an urban area, such as that would have local AM/FM transmitters, or an area with a great deal of RFI, the directional aspect of a loop antenna is hard to dismiss and is irreplaceable compared to a long wire for receiving. I know of no better all around LW - MW - SW receive antenna than the MLA-30/30+ for the price currently.

[@christianwootton100]

In addition to the MLA 30 plus I have a PAR Electronics end fed antenna that is wonderful, outperforms the MLA....cost me about $80USD and worth it. I find, however that the MLA pairs well with an ATS-25 receiver. I love this Sangean, VERY quiet on SSB. Nice vid here. 👏

[@sidneycavalcant]

Tem o link da antena PAR Electronics ?

[@geez-hd6dn]

You will get better signal and lower noise if you mount the MLA 30 in free air.

[@tlebryk]

Good test. So, you also get those loud clicks&pops QRM on 16 and 19 meter bands. I have noticed them monday thru friday for the last 5 years and getting louder year by year (very easy to see on an SDR waterfall). I think the US military is messing with a new broadband communications system but only a guess. Could be something commercial but the FCC would forbid that use. Mystery QRM.

[@duanetrivett750]

Thanks for the time you spent on this video it is very informative. I also have the same Radio and was thinking about a MAL 30 .

[@kittybiten2]

I live in a small apartment on the 4th floor with no balcony and just one large window with a gap of about 12 cm at the top when open, I had a wire hanging out the window about 4m, I bought the MLA 30+ made it so I could slide it out of the window and turn it around, the MLA30+ is a lot better however I think I got a cheap copy as it started losing power (according to the LED on it) but I got a refund so cant complain. The MLA30+ was a lot better than my little wire.

[@anthonyfranz8317]

You should do the test with both antennas while running the radio on batteries only. AC power can generate noise.

[@piotrfelisiak1002]

hello my X2 after switching to SSB (on the built-in antenna) is very quiet (you can hear the voice but I have to set the volume to MAX) is this normal?

[@sfred]

The Sangean power supply is pretty good. I’ve done a few comparisons and not noticed any difference on SW, but this is a good point.

[@sfred]

Mine is quieter on SSB but I don’t find turning it up all the is necessary. However that’s based on a sample size of one and the signals I’m listening to may be stronger. It’s a common complaint/quirk with this radio.

[@josephleister9198]

I have mla30+ , I think it works really well.... but like in the video I work between the LW and the mla30+....thanks for the video...

[@piotrfelisiak1002]

hello my X2 after switching to SSB (on the built-in antenna) is very quiet (you can hear the voice but I have to set the volume to MAX) is this normal?

[@sidneycavalcant]

O X2 é complexo !

[@hugoruas]

Me parece pela imagem de seu vídeo que a forma da instalação da antena MLA 30 não está corretamente posicionada, assim, fixado na parede. De uma conferida no manual e perceba que ela tem campo de recepção frontalmente aos círculos e na forma que instalou perdeu essa captação. 73!

[@larryblake3048]

A cable modem will add a lot of noise and static to shortwave signals, or at least mine does!

[@roncyr1850]

i ve been using the mla -30 + indoors........do your self a favour and use a pl-330 to run the test.....way more sensitive ....i have a eton elite executive also...i am sure you are surprised by the mla-30+....changed radio life...lol

[@sfred]

Move it outdoors if you can! I actually think the ATS909x2 is a bit more sensitive than the PL-330. Not by a lot, but enough to notice. The other bonus with the MLA-30+ is that it's a pretty good MW antenna too. The ATS909x2 has a MW antenna input but so does the PL-330 through an undocumented setting: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y2e8gKFuZaqYnbs

[@vw66]

Do the orientation of the antenna do something, or touch install and forget about it ?

[@xlr8also]

Just a heads-up that you are using an imitation MLA-30+. The Giveaway is the red LED and the label on the wrong side of the box. The original should have a green LED in the middle of the label. The difference in sensitivity is substantial.

[@xlr8also]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/joWyl3ZohbGfh6M

[@sfred]

That's certainly possible.

[@dskentfield]

I've seen/heard the same thing, authentic green led top middle...Also, there is a significant difference between the original and inside if you open the case...

[@GCrypson]

Mine is authentic, green LED.

[@13Voodoobilly69]

@@davidwanklyn8842🙌🤣

[@techexpedition]

Great video 👍🏻 Also never connect external power source while DXing because it injects additional noise into radio.

[@sfred]

Surprisingly this isn't noticeable on SW with the included power supply. On LW it's very obvious.

[@techexpedition]

@@sfred my SW radio picks up noise hence said 😀

[@vineyardsaker6195]

Where does your long wire go? Could you please describe the length and position of your random wire antenna? Tx

[@sfred]

I've used a couple of orientations, so I'm not sure exactly how I had it set up when this video was recorded. Most likely it ran across my roofdeck and then down the side of the building.

[@SB-mi2ii]

Am I missing something? Were you using an audio extension cable instead of coax from your wire aerial? Hardly surprising you were picking-up noise.

[@sfred]

It's certainly one factor. I mention it when I discuss the two antennas, if I remember correctly.

[@radellaf]

yeah seeing that did surprise me vs putting a plug on rg174 or something.

[@ronsarchery6378]

I have two mounted on separate poles above the house. One at 15 feet, one at 20 feet. Both facing opposite directions, I do better with a 100 foot random wire. Of course, maybe I have yet to find their sweet spots. The 100 foot does better than the 50 foot. I do use all four though. I really hate the cheap yellow connector with the yellow spring. Going to upgrade that.

[@sfred]

I think if I had room for 100' of wire I wouldn't bother with the MLA-30+, except maybe as a MW antenna.

[@mercster]

Strange... I have owned the MLA-30 and the MLA-30+, and their loops are the same size. The other day I ordered a third one for a new pole I had bought... what was sent to me was a very strange antenna. It had legitimate-ish labelling, said it was a MLA-30+, but the freq range and power rating for the bias-T were matched to the original non-plus version of the MLA-30. Strangest yet, the loop was HUGE, almost twice the size of the "real" MLA-30. When you showed your MLA-30+ mounted on the side of your building... that loop looks very large, like this weird one I got. Most MLA-30/MLA-30+, to my knowledge, have a much smaller loop. These things come from China and I have no doubt there are counterfeits or just straight up weird ones being produced from time to time. Do you have any other MLA-30s? The mystery deepens....sorry to bother, thanks for the video.

[@mercster]

And if you look at your bias-T, the SNA jacks are on the wrong side. I believe you have a counterfeit, mate...

[@mercster]

And your bias-T has the label on the wrong side.

[@mercster]

There's another video titled "MLA 30 Plus vs Knockoff" you may be interested in.

[@renaldo8572]

❤

[@tonymagnier9846]

My 909x2 is very poor on SSB, very low audio but also unfort my one is plagued by noises interally.

[@sfred]

I'm sorry to hear that. Mine has been fine, but I understand you're not alone in having these kinds of issues.

[@ramseyramsey-b3e]

The 909 series doesn't seem to do well on AM broadcast either. Factually, my ham radios suck on AM broadcast (I understand they are not made for that) as well. I am currently making a passive loop for AM broadcast DX. I'll be repurposing one of my antenna tuners to affectuate the plan.

[@scottwilson9817]

BenQ treVolo U Desktop Dialogue Speaker, Speakerphone with HD Mic, for Steam Deck, Listening Audiobooks, Podcast, CB/Ham Radio (NR, Noise Cancellation), Voice Chat, Discord, Online Chat, Blue

[@alabamared2568]

Well with shortwave bands the higher your antenna is off the ground the more qrn you will get Man made interference.... Lay your long wire on the ground not in the air because shortwave your not transmitting your RX So shortwave runs different than regular bands on RX try that same long wire directly on the ground and just see for yourself

[@BrianSlosson]

Be advised your MLA 30+ is not the real one. Looking at the label and the light on your MLA-30+ you have a knock off version of the unit see here kzbin.info/www/bejne/joWyl3ZohbGfh6M

[@JonAhlquist]

BrianSlosson is absolutely right about this being a knock-off (inferior) version of an MLA-30+. Unfortunately, I own a knock-off. To be more explicit about the visible characteristics of the inferior knock-off, the "biasing tee" for a genuine MLA-30+ has a hole so that the green LED can shine through, while the "biasing tee" for a knock-off may or may not have a hole for its LED (typically red): 0:00 Further, the mounting case for a genuine MLA-30+ antenna has 6 holes while the mounting case for a knock-off has 4 holes: 5:30 The wire for the antenna is typically thinner and longer than the wire for a gneuine MLA30+., and the knock-off wire is typically coiled and then folded while the genuine wire is only coiled. The genuine unit also comes with two mounting screws.

[@Robert-e1s5x]

My MLA 30+ works much better when moved about 20' away from my house.(brick walls)

[@FSR-v9c]

Did you say you tried to use RG6 or the equivalent 50ohm cable for a mic cable? UMmm Ok ??